Making for the first time? Sharpening your skills? Looking for a new project? Take a class at Artisan’s Asylum!

All classes at Artisan’s Asylum are 18+, open to the public and do not require membership to attend. Mostly taught by our members, our classes are led by local artisans, makers, enthusiasts and explorers who are passionate about their craft. Many of our students come to learn how to make at Artisan’s Asylum with no prior experience.

Below our class and tool training listings are organized by category/shop area. Each class has a live link in orange that will bring you to it’s unique Eventbrite registration page with more detail about classes, instructor bios, FAQs, prerequisites, and pricing. Check out our Eventbrite Organizer Page for an alternate view!

Have questions about a class or interested in private or group lessons? You can contact the organizer via the event if you are interested in a particular class or email teach@.

Art, Multimedia & More

NEW! Carve Your Own Rubber Stamps! Sun 3 – 7pm 9/10 — In this make and take workshop, you’ll use an easy-to-carve material to create your own rubber stamps! We’ll cover tools, carving styles, and printing techniques and then roll up our sleeves and get to work. Carved rubber stamps can be used to make everything from stationery to business cards to printed fabric to temporary tattoos. They’re also great for reproducing slogans and logos.

NEW! Alternative Printmaking: Stencils! Thu 6:30 – 9pm Choose A Thursday, Next Up 8/31! — Don’t have a silk screen set-up or exposure unit at home? Here is one of the many ways you can still incorporate printmaking in your life without the need for expensive set ups or printing presses. Learn about stencils in this one session course on Alternative “Low-Tech” Printmaking, and gain the skills to create products such as customized stationery/notebooks, patches, t-shirts, and tote bags!

NEW! Introduction to Mold and Cast Making Sun 1 – 3pm Sept. 10 & 17 — This two session course will go over the basic techniques used in molding with silicone rubber and casting with urethane plastic. Please note: ticket sales close at noon Friday before first class session.

NEW! Free Cosplay Workshop!2nd and 4th Thu 6:30 – 9:30pm — Join us for a new series of free cosplay work nights! Want to wear a costume to a convention? Already have a costume that needs work? Have questions about prop building, EVA foam construction, or costuming? Sign up for this open workshop for members and non-members alike to get together and work on individual or group cosplays, costumes, props, or models.

Figure Drawing Tuesdays Tue 6:30 – 9:30pm Choose a Tuesday! NEW! Monthly Class Passes August Pass, Sept. Pass— Join us any Tuesday night for this fun and constructive drawing session with live models! Open to artists of all levels of experience — whether you’re looking for guided exercises or free-form drawing time. Drop-ins welcome: early bird discount for folks signed up 24 hrs or more in advance!

NEW! Glass Enamel on Copper Weekend Workshop Sat & Sun 10:30am – 4:30pm Sept. 23 & 24 — In a combination of two enthralling materials, learn to join glass to metal in this weekend workshop! Multiple enameling techniques will be explored in this class: sifting, wetpacking, sgraffito, stencils, and embedding other elements using a small kiln for firing the pieces. Expect to create multiple enameled pieces for jewelry or wall hung paintings.

Bicycle Building & Maintenance

NEW! Bicycle Basics: Chains and ShiftersThu 7 – 9pm Aug. 17 — The Bicycle Basics series of classes focus on one essential skill every cyclist should have in their repertoire. This one session class will teach you how to best maintain your chain and adjust your shifters. Chain cleaning and lubrication is one of the most overlooked parts of bicycle maintenance that will improve the performance of any bike.

NEW! Bicycle Basics: BrakesThu 7 – 9pm Aug. 24 — The Bicycle Basics series of classes focus on one essential skill every cyclist should have in their repertoire. This one session class will teach you how to maintain your brakes and brake cables. Learn about cable stretch, toe in, and centering your brakes to have the best stopping power for a safe ride.

Bicycle Maintenance IThu 7 – 9pm Sept. 7 – 28— Learn how to maintain your bicycle! The four classes in this course will cover the following topics: changing a flat tire, introduction to drive systems and rear derailleurs, brake systems overhaul, and introduction to bearings systems and front hub overhaul.

Business & Marketing

Arts Marketing and Business Development, Wed 6 – 9pm — Free consultations offered to artists, makers, and craftspeople by Jesa Damora of FunnelCake Marketing. You make your art– then what? Where do you sell it, and to whom, and for how much? How do you put together all the pieces that can make a sustainable art life? These are questions both the beginner and the established professional need to address ongoingly. By appointment. Contact jesa@funnelcakemarketing.com.

NEW! Search Engine Optimization 101 Wed 6:30 – 9:30pm Choose A Date! — Did you know that 75% of online users never scroll past the first page of results on Google? Learn the Art of Search Engine Manipulation! If you have a website that needs some help generating traffic, increasing engagement and time on site, or driving customers further down the conversion funnel, this is the class for you.

CAD, Programming, Design & Engineering

Product Design Consultations Every other Thu; Walk-in and By Appointment — This is a free service offered to Artisan’s Asylum members and friends. If you’ve got a project you’re thinking about developing for mass production, or just a sketch on the back of a napkin, these sessions aim to provide insights into the product development process: from user research and form development to prototyping, tooling and pitching. Consultations are available by appointment, email abandazian@gmail.com to reserve a half-hour slot.

NEW! Search Engine Optimization 101Wed 6:30 – 9:30pm Choose A Date! — Did you know that 75% of online users never scroll past the first page of results on Google? Learn the Art of Search Engine Manipulation! If you have a website that needs some help generating traffic, increasing engagement and time on site, or driving customers further down the conversion funnel, this is the class for you.

Tool Training: 3D Printer Sun 2 – 4pm Choose A Date! — This one session class will train students on how to use the Asylum’s multiple 3D printers safely and effectively, running through using the 3D model compiler (Simplify3D), printing parts, changing materials, properly removing parts from the beds, and properly disposing of all materials after the print: all the training you need to get going in one afternoon!

NEW! Make a 3D Print with Blender! Weekend Workshop Sat & Sun 3:30 – 6:30pm Choose A Date! — This two session weekend class will provide a crash course in the essentials of 3D modeling using free software, Blender. On the way to creating a small takeaway 3D print, students will learn how to prep those models for 3D printing as well as how to navigate in 3D software and how to light and render an image of their model in 3D to show off their work.

Introduction to ShopBot CNC Router and VCarve ProThu 6:30pm – 9:30pm Sept. 12 – Oct. 10 — Learn to use the Artisan’s Asylum new ShopBot CNC Router — the best professional-grade but hobbyist-accessible version of this tool — and the easy-to-use CAM software required to make it run, while making a project out of wood or plastic from a 2D drawing! For students with previous experience in 2D CAD/vector software such as Inkscape, AutoCAD, or Solidworks.

CNC Prototyping & CAM

Investment Casting Wed 6:30 – 9:30pm Sept. 13 – 27— This 3 session class is designed to introduce students to the art of casting a metal part from a master model which is destroyed in the process and train them for using the equipment in the Artisan’s Asylum Casting Shop. Testing session is included.

NEW! Investment Casting: Open Studio Thu & Fri 6:30 – 9pm *or* Sat & Sun 2:30 – 5pm Choose Your Session!— This two-session workshop offers folks who have taken an Investment Casting class with us here at A2 the chance to cast in a guided open studio format. Whether you’d like to refresh your memory on the process, troubleshoot a cast, figure out the kiln programming, or try something unusual, this class will provide a chance to ask questions and gain confidence in your casting and making the most of your studio time at Artisan’s Asylum.

Tool Training: CNC Plasma CutterSun 6 – 9pm Choose A Date! — Learn how to use a computer-controlled, water-cooled plasma cutter to cut any shape you want out of a 4’x8′ sheet of metal! In this one session class, we’ll show you how to translate your hand sketches and CAD drawings into patterns cut out of any metal sheet up to an inch thick, at rates of up to 200 inches per minute plus make you eligible to schedule your training and get cleared to use the tool on your own as an Asylum member!

Tool Training: Asylasaur Laser Cutter Sun 5 – 7pm *or* Thu 7 – 9pm Choose A Date!— The laser cutter is the most flexible and accessible rapid prototyping tool in any shop. This 2-hour training class will cover some basics on how laser cutters work and review full operating procedures for the large format Asylasaur laser cutter. Every student will get to create a small item as part of the class! Testing will be required before students are signed off to use the tool independently as members.

NEW! Tool Training: Vinyl CutterSun 5 – 6pm Choose Your Session! — Learn how to use the in-house large-format vinyl cutter, and how to weed, transfer, and apply your vinyl decals. In addition, you’ll learn about the wide variety of applications for vinyl including signs, car decals (bumper/window stickers), laptop decals, home decor, and other projects!

Electronics & Robotics

NEW! Robotics, Sensing and Imaging: Intro to the Raspberry Pi Thu 7 – 9:30pm Oct. 5 – 19 — This course will cover the use of the Raspberry Pi to demonstrate the fundamentals of robotics with special emphasis on nearby object detection, rapid motion control and the techniques of real-time image acquisition and interpretation. The topics covered in this class, while taught from the standpoint of robotics, are useable in a host of other applications where object-detection, motion-control or imaging is required.

NEW! Wearable Interactive Electronics Sun 10:15am – 2:45pm Choose A Sunday! Next Up: 8/20 — Learn about the latest awesome widget from Adafruit Industries, the Circuit Playground, a wearable microcontroller that has ten multicolor RGB LEDs, a microphone, speaker, accelerometer, light sensor, and other goodies that can make any piece of clothing an interactive light and sound show. The Circuit Playground is an Arduino compatible device, and uses the same well known interface that has been taught previously. Please note: ticket sales end 48 hrs in advance.

Hands On Basic Electronics Mon 7 – 9pm Sept. 11 – Oct. 2 — Are you interested in learning to work with electronics, yet unsure where to start? Look no further: this practical crash course will teach you the skills to do simple electronic projects. You will walk away knowing the basics of circuit theory, how to prototype circuits on a breadboard, how to troubleshoot them, and how to solder them together.

FREE! Circuit Hacking NightWed 6 – 8pm — Come play with electronics at Artisan’s Asylum! For newbies and experienced hackers alike, one night a week our electronics & robotics lab will be open to the public — there will be a free introductory soldering lesson, electronics kits on hand for sale for those who wish to make things, and experienced hackers and engineers around to answer all your questions. Feel free to bring your own projects to work on if you have them!

Fiber Arts

FREE! Free Fiber Arts Work NightEvery 2nd Thursday 7 – 9pm — This free work night offers a monthly opportunity to meet others who enjoy creating with fibers including knitting, felting, crochet, weaving, quilting, stitching, etc, to show work, discuss, to teach or learn, and occasionally see demonstrations of new techniques. For beginners, experts, or anywhere in between! This is a drop-in session in our Social Area and no pre-registration is required.

NEW! Button! Button!Sat 1 – 4:30pm Nov. 4 — Spend the afternoon at the Artisan’s Asylum making metal buttons from copper, brass, bronze, and silver (silver optional) to complement your clothing and bag projects. This half-day workshop is designed for those with no prior jewelry experience, you will be learn to use basic jeweler’s tools: the jeweler’s saw, disk cutter, mini-drill bits on the flex shaft, and dome forming dies.

Jewelry & Metalsmithing

NEW! Glass Enamel on Copper Weekend Workshop Sat & Sun 10:30am – 4:30pm Sept. 23 & 24 — In a combination of two enthralling materials, learn to join glass to metal in this weekend workshop! Multiple enameling techniques will be explored in this class: sifting, wetpacking, sgraffito, stencils, and embedding other elements using a small kiln for firing the pieces. Expect to create multiple enameled pieces for jewelry or wall hung paintings.

NEW! Tool Training: Pulse Arc Welder Monday 7:30-9pm, Choose a Date! — This one session class is designed to introduce students to the Orion pulse arc welder with an overview of its capabilities, basic use and safety guidelines, and practice Q&A to help students get started with their particular projects or interests.

Tool Training & Testing: Jewelry Shop Mon 6 – 9pm Choose a Date!— This one session tool training is the perfect way to get trained up to operate independently in the Jewelry shop if you don’t have time for a long-form class. Testing necessary to be checked off to work on your own — available by appointment

Investment Casting Wed 6:30 – 9:30pm Sept. 13 – 27— This 3 session class is designed to introduce students to the art of casting a metal part from a master model which is destroyed in the process and train them for using the equipment in the Artisan’s Asylum Casting Shop. Testing session is included.

NEW! Investment Casting: Open Studio Thu & Fri 6:30 – 9pm *or* Sat & Sun 2:30 – 5pm Choose Your Session!— This two-session workshop offers folks who have taken an Investment Casting class with us here at A2 the chance to cast in a guided open studio format. Whether you’d like to refresh your memory on the process, troubleshoot a cast, figure out the kiln programming, or try something unusual, this class will provide a chance to ask questions and gain confidence in your casting and making the most of your studio time at Artisan’s Asylum.

Jewelry 101: Intro to Metalsmithing Tue 6 – 9 pm Sept. 5 – Oct. 10 // Mon 12:15 – 3:15pm Sept. 11 – Oct. 23 — Over 6 sessions, students will learn basic jeweler’s techniques. No experience is needed, just bring a desire to learn and you’ll be off and running using the torch, jeweler’s saw, special hammers, polishing wheel, and so much more, to create your own jewelry.

NEW! Simple Stud Earrings Thu 6 – 9:30pm, Oct. 5 — Take this fun and quick evening class all about stud earrings! This class will cover how to make different styles of studs and other basic jewelry techniques: students will pick a style and should expect to make 1-2 pairs of earrings. This class is suitable for beginners.

NEW! Button! Button!Sat 1 – 4:30pm Nov. 4 — Spend the afternoon at the Artisan’s Asylum making metal buttons from copper, brass, bronze, and silver (silver optional) to complement your clothing and bag projects. This half-day workshop is designed for those with no prior jewelry experience, you will be learn to use basic jeweler’s tools: the jeweler’s saw, disk cutter, mini-drill bits on the flex shaft, and dome forming dies.

Machining

Tool Training: Manual Milling Machine Thu 7 – 9pm Sept. 7 & 14, Sept. 21 & 28 — A two-session basic training in operating the Artisan’s Asylum’s Bridgeport Mills: amazingly versatile tools that can be used to machine precisely dimensioned parts out of metals and plastics. In this class you will learn how to use the Bridgeport mill to perform basic precision machining operations.

NEW! Tool Training: Bridgeport CNC Milling MachineSun 6 – 8pm Aug. 6 – 27 — In this 4 session intensive training Learn to operate the Artisan’s Asylym Bridgeport Series I Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) milling machine. CNC milling machines can be used to make parts that would be difficult or impossible to machine manually. CNC milling uses build files to control the machines movements, which makes machining multiple copies of the same part easier and more reliable. Please note there are some prerequisites to this course!

Introduction to the Metal LatheWed 7 – 9pm Sept. 6 & 13, Sept. 20 & 27 — This class will teach students how to operate the metal lathe for precision machining. You will learn tool selection, speeds and feeds, and how to use the DRO (Digital Read Out) to make precisely dimensioned parts.

NEW! Tool Training: CNC LatheSat 1 – 3pm July 15 – Aug. 5 — This 4 session intensive training will teach you everything you need to know to operate a 10HP Millport 1740 CNC lathe to make complex parts. Please note there are some prerequisites to this course!

Manual Machining & LayoutSun 1 – 3pm Sept. 3 – Oct. 8 — This 6 week intensive class will have you machining aluminum alloy and carbon steel to exacting specifications. You’ll practice a variety of operations on a mill and lathe which will prepare you for creating parts for anything from robots to coffee grinders to bicycles with confidence.

Metalworking & Welding

Metalworking Tool Training: 101 Cut, Grind, and Drill MetalSat 12 – 2pm Aug. 19 & 26 — A quick introduction to the staples of metalworking and the perfect warm-up to welding. Students will learn how to pick the right saw for the job, how to drill holes, and how to grind burrs down, amongst other things.

Metalworking Tool Training: 102 Cut, Grind, PUNCH!Sat 2 – 4pm Aug. 19 & 26— Take your metalworking tool training to the next level! In this beginner/intermediate class you’ll learn how to use: vertical bandsaws, our large belt grinder and smaller belt sander, aluminum grinders, the Iron Worker, production jigging. This class can be taken in conjunction with Metalworking Tool Training 101 if you have no prior experience.

Basic MIG Welding Tool Training Sat 4 – 8pm Choose A Date!— Learn MIG training in one-session! Take this basic MIG Welder training if you are entirely new to welding or looking for a refresher. Take the class multiple times to use as a practicum and build on basic skills!

NEW! Tool Training: Oxy-Acetylene Torch Sunday 1 – 4pm Choose A Date! Next Up: 8/20— The oxy-acetylene rig is the most versatile piece of equipment in the welding shop, with the ability to perform welding, cutting, brazing, & heating, this tool is a must for any metalworker’s skill set. Take this one-session class will train you on safe operation of the tool and demonstrate its range of functions.

Introduction to TIG Welding Mon 7:30 – 9:30pm Aug. 7 – 28, Sept. 11 – Oct. 2— Come learn how to weld with Skunk! TIG welding is a precise type of welding generally used to make space frames (like bicycle frames) and small pieces. Students learn operation of a TIG welder and a large range of supporting equipment for a variety of materials and joint types. Taught by Skunk, metal sculptor, graphic designer, bike builder, Grand Poobah of the nerd bicycle gang SCUL, and long-time Asylum TIG welding instructor and member.

NEW! TIG Welding 2: Aluminum, Stainless, and Pulse Thu 7 – 9:30pm Sept. 7 – 28— One of the great things about the TIG process is its versatility– it can be used to weld almost any metal, and in fact switching from one material to another takes mere seconds. This class will cover welding technique and best practices for stainless steel and aluminum alloys, combining insights on welding technique, welding engineering & design, fabrication practices, and welding inspection. NOTE: This is NOT an introductory class, please check class description for pre-reqs.

Screen Printing

Single-Color Screen Printing Mon & Wed 6:30 – 9pm Next up 8/28 & 8/30 — In this two-evening introduction to screen printing, you’ll learn how to create a screen using your artwork and print a one-color design on your choice of fabric or paper *and* will be cleared to use our print shop as a member.

Woodworking

NEW! Tool Training: Wood Lathe Fundamentals Thu 6 – 8:30pm Sept. 7 – 21 — In this class, students will be trained to learn safe and independent operation of the lathe wood lathe at the Artisan’s Asylum as well as the fundamentals of spindle turning.

NEW! Wood Lathe: Guided Practice Sat 10:15am – 12:15pm Choose A Date! — Do you have experience with the wood lathe but need a refresher? Are you a beginner who could use some help with technique and fundamental skills? This single session class will put some supervised lathe time under your belt to help you build the confidence in turning on your own and in planning your next project.

Tool Training: Tablesaw Fundamentals Tues 7 – 10pm Aug 8 & 15, Aug. 22 & 29— This class is designed to introduce students to using the table saw which is often the most important power tool in wood shops and woodworking. The goal of the class to is to present the important basics to proper and safe use of the table saw so that students leave class feeling confident in setting up and using this saw in a variety of ways.

Tool Training: Router Table FundamentalsMon 6 – 8:30pm Aug. 7 – 21, Sept 11 – 25 — The router table is a versatile tool in any woodshop, used to cut a variety of edge profiles, duplicate patterns, and make dados. In this two-part class, learn to use a router table safely for a variety of woodworking operations, and reinforce these techniques by constructing a small, simple cutting board project.

Tool Training: Rough to Smooth — Using the Miter Saw, Band Saw, Jointer & PlanerWed 7 – 9:30pm Aug. 9 – 23 , Sept. 13 – 27— The first step in any woodworking project is dimensioning your stock. Lucky for you there are four tools specifically designed to take rough sawn lumber and process it into boards that are straight, flat, and true! In this 3-week class, learn the maintenance and safe operation of these tools, and the techniques for using them to dimension rough stock, and get checked out to use them as members in the Asylum shop.